Driving from Virginia, gas to the closest state (West Virginia) costs as little as $32 one way. To the far coast (California or Washington), you’re looking at about $543. Most road trips from Virginia land somewhere between those two numbers, and the exact cost comes down to where you’re headed and current AAA gas prices.
We built an interactive map that answers that question for every single state — at a glance.
Unlike most gas calculators that spit out one number based on a single national average, this map uses each state’s actual current gas price for the miles you drive through it. So the cost you see for California uses California’s expensive gas, and the cost for Tennessee uses Tennessee’s cheaper gas. The result is a more honest look at what your trip will really cost. There’s also an MPG box on the map — type in your car’s real number and every cost updates instantly.
Virginia to anywhere
Total: ~4,302 miles · ~70 hours · Passport required · Route through 4 Canadian provinces/territories · Estimated gas cost ~$1,040 one way
How We Calculate Gas Cost From Virginia To Every State
A few things worth knowing before you read the numbers:
- Vehicle: 20 MPG — a reasonable average for most cars and SUVs (use the MPG box on the map to set your own)
- Routes: Actual driving routes from Lexington, not straight-line distance
- Destination: The geographic center city of each state
- Gas prices: Each state’s own AAA average — not a national average
- Data source: AAA Gas Prices, June 2026
- Direction: One way from Lexington, Virginia
This means if you’re driving to Tennessee, we used Tennessee’s gas price for the miles you’re in Tennessee — not Virginia’s price for the whole trip. That’s what makes this different from a standard calculator.
Cheapest And Most Expensive Drives From Virginia
- West Virginia is the cheapest drive at $32 one way — basically a neighbor at 159 miles and under 3 hours.
- California is the most expensive at $543 — far west, and the priciest gas in the country at $5.76 a gallon.
- Texas is the best value for the distance: $250 for 1,369 miles, thanks to cheap southern gas the whole way down.
- Washington ties California at $543 — the opposite corner of the map, same price tag, because Washington gas is nearly as expensive.
- Tennessee is the sweet spot at $89 — 480 miles and about 7 hours, an easy weekend run toward Nashville.
How Long Does It Take To Drive From Virginia To Every State?
Gas cost is only half the story. Before you commit to a road trip, you also need to know how many hours you’ll be sitting in the car. We mapped that too — from a quick 2h50m hop to West Virginia all the way out to 39 hours to the Pacific.
Virginia to anywhere
Total: ~4,302 miles · ~70 hours · Passport required · Route through 4 Canadian provinces/territories · Estimated gas cost ~$1,040 one way
Gas Cost And Drive Time From Virginia To Every State
Sorted by cost, lowest to highest. All prices one way from Lexington, Virginia, at 20 MPG.
| State | Gas Cost | Drive Time | Miles | Gas Price There |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $32 | 2h 50m | 159 mi | $4.04 |
| North Carolina | $35 | 3h | 184 mi | $3.71 |
| Maryland | $38 | 3h 5m | 198 mi | $3.85 |
| Pennsylvania | $48 | 3h 40m | 243 mi | $4.23 |
| South Carolina | $62 | 5h | 330 mi | $3.70 |
| Delaware | $64 | 6h | 334 mi | $3.82 |
| New Jersey | $74 | 6h | 380 mi | $4.13 |
| Kentucky | $81 | 6h 25m | 420 mi | $3.65 |
| Ohio | $83 | 6h 25m | 410 mi | $4.09 |
| Tennessee | $89 | 7h 10m | 480 mi | $3.64 |
| Indiana | $96 | 7h 25m | 491 mi | $3.36 |
| Georgia | $98 | 7h 50m | 523 mi | $3.77 |
| New York | $102 | 7h 45m | 494 mi | $4.38 |
| Connecticut | $108 | 8h 5m | 526 mi | $4.24 |
| Alabama | $112 | 8h 40m | 604 mi | $3.70 |
| Rhode Island | $116 | 8h 55m | 579 mi | $4.08 |
| Massachusetts | $121 | 9h 15m | 586 mi | $4.20 |
| Michigan | $122 | 9h 5m | 599 mi | $4.20 |
| Illinois | $139 | 10h 30m | 702 mi | $4.40 |
| Mississippi | $140 | 11h 25m | 754 mi | $3.68 |
| Florida | $144 | 10h 50m | 762 mi | $3.86 |
| Vermont | $144 | 11h 10m | 689 mi | $4.32 |
| New Hampshire | $148 | 11h | 716 mi | $4.17 |
| Arkansas | $160 | 12h 35m | 867 mi | $3.70 |
| Missouri | $169 | 13h 15m | 881 mi | $3.76 |
| Maine | $175 | 13h 25m | 848 mi | $4.17 |
| Louisiana | $180 | 14h 25m | 971 mi | $3.67 |
| Wisconsin | $186 | 14h 20m | 955 mi | $3.89 |
| Iowa | $194 | 14h 40m | 983 mi | $3.73 |
| Oklahoma | $210 | 16h 35m | 1,142 mi | $3.58 |
| Kansas | $211 | 16h 25m | 1,107 mi | $3.74 |
| Minnesota | $234 | 18h 5m | 1,204 mi | $3.88 |
| Texas | $250 | 20h 15m | 1,369 mi | $3.54 |
| Nebraska | $251 | 19h 45m | 1,305 mi | $3.91 |
| North Dakota | $284 | 21h 30m | 1,465 mi | $3.86 |
| South Dakota | $285 | 21h 20m | 1,462 mi | $3.98 |
| Colorado | $305 | 23h 45m | 1,583 mi | $4.13 |
| New Mexico | $309 | 24h | 1,676 mi | $3.94 |
| Wyoming | $331 | 26h | 1,701 mi | $4.23 |
| Montana | $383 | 29h | 1,944 mi | $4.25 |
| Utah | $389 | 29h | 1,983 mi | $4.31 |
| Arizona | $401 | 30h | 2,111 mi | $4.44 |
| Idaho | $446 | 33h | 2,231 mi | $4.43 |
| Nevada | $475 | 35h | 2,352 mi | $4.93 |
| Oregon | $540 | 39h | 2,620 mi | $5.01 |
| California | $543 | 38h | 2,628 mi | $5.76 |
| Washington | $543 | 39h | 2,631 mi | $5.53 |
| Alaska ⚠️ | ~$1,040 | ~70h | ~4,302 mi | varies* |
*Alaska gas price varies by Canadian province; estimate uses a blended rate. All figures one way from Lexington, VA, at 20 MPG. AAA averages, June 2026.
Times are no traffic, direct route, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. Real world drive time will vary — budget extra for stops, construction, and the inevitable “we need snacks” moment 40 miles before the exit. 😄
Can You Drive From Virginia To Alaska?
Yes, you can actually drive from Virginia to Alaska. But let’s be real — this is a completely different kind of trip.
- Total miles: approximately 4,302 one way
- Drive time: roughly 70 hours
- Passport required: you drive through 4 Canadian provinces
- Route: Virginia → West Virginia → Ohio → Indiana → Illinois → Wisconsin → Minnesota → North Dakota → Saskatchewan → Alberta → British Columbia → Yukon → Alaska
- Estimated gas cost: approximately $1,040 one way
British Columbia is typically the most expensive leg of the Canadian portion, and the sheer distance is what drives the total up. The Canadian provinces are surprisingly reasonable on their own — it’s just a LOT of road.
Worth knowing: some states issue Enhanced Driver’s Licenses that allow land border crossings into Canada without a full passport. Check with your state’s DMV before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because gas actually costs different amounts in different states. California and Washington run over $5.50 a gallon. Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee often sit under $3.65. If we used Virginia’s price for the entire trip, you’d get a completely wrong number for anything far from home. We use the actual price in each state for the miles you drive there.
Using the geographic center of each state gives everyone a fair, consistent target. If we picked major cities, some states would look artificially cheap or expensive just because their biggest city happens to sit near a border. The center point puts every state on equal footing.
No — all numbers are one way. Double it for a rough round trip estimate, though your return cost may vary a little depending on gas prices when you travel.
Use the MPG box above the map — type your number and every cost updates instantly.
Gas prices are based on AAA state averages from June 2026. Gas prices change constantly — for the most current numbers before your trip, check aaa.com/gas.
Ready To Start Planning?
Now that you know what gas will cost, it’s time to figure out where to actually go. Check out our Virginia road trip guides for ideas on where to stop, what to see, and how to make the most of your drive — whether you’re staying close to home in the Blue Ridge or pointing the car somewhere brand new.
Hi, I’m Alice. I’ve been running Road Trip Owl for five years and taking 6+ multi-day road trips a year (plus more weekend escapes than I can count). These maps come from the real road — real routes, real prices, no national averages.
